Hot Springs

WARNING: This post has material that some will find objectionable. It is even more objectionable than my usual trash. So if you think you might be offended, do not continue. Unless, of course, you want to be offended.

Sunday was a wonderful day for being outdoors. For me, it consisted of a drive north to meet my Special Redheaded Friend so we could do some hiking. We wanted to visit natural hot springs that were a bit off the beaten path. On my way to the rendezvous, I stopped at the Indian casino for a bit of slot machine and 21; each game put a few dollars in my pocket, and then I was on my way.

We chose to meet in Roseburg, which is where highway 138 starts its route along the North Umpqua River. We met in a parking lot, and SRF climbed into my truck, and we began (after a bit of smooching) our drive up into the mountains. It was familiar territory for her, and she shared stories of past adventures she had in the area. For me, in spite of living in the region for decades, this was the first time I'd taken the route. The beauty was stunning.


We passed some interesting road signs along the way.

After about an hour's drive, we arrived at the base of the trail that led to the hot springs. There were several campsites there.We both had our cameras, and we would pause to take pictures of the scenery, including this bug. One of the pleasures of photography is that it gives one a reason to pause and notice details.

We were disappointed at first when we found out that the Forest Service bridge had been removed; there appeared to be no way to cross the stream. But we met some hikers who directed us to a log bridge that somebody had constructed just a short distance away.

SRF was the first to cross, testing the stability of the planks as she made her way.She showed impeccable balance and grace!
The water was very cold, fairly deep, and moving fast. As I went across, I shot this photo. In my mind was "don't let the camera gear get wet." I managed to make it over without a fall.

The trail was very pretty, and fairly steep. Sunlight filtered through the treetops. When we had started the day, it was fairly chilly, but as we started up the mountain the sun broke through and it warmed quickly.Wildflowers grew in patches.

And the sun created some interesting backlight effects on the plant life.The trail was easy to follow; this has probably been the route for well over 100 years.

In the steepest part, the Forest Service had built a rail. It was virtually straight down to the right, about 100 yards above the stream.
We passed over a small rise in the trail, and there in front of us were the bathing pools. This was a clothing-optional site, and several of the hike-in guests were bathing nude. (No, I did NOT take their photos.) Even the clothed guests had healthy looking physiques: Getting to this place took some strength and stamina.

This whole mountain is part of the Cascade Range, which is full of active volcanic areas. The springs came out of cracks in the huge rock outcropping, which lies above some sort of geothermal feature under the earth. Some of the springs fed directly into the pools, and some came from higher up in the rock. Where there were natural "pots" in the rock face, pools formed and those pools were where people congregated. This pool seemed to be the most popular when we arrived.

This one seemed to be much hotter than the rest; few could tolerate sitting in it for very long. The water is much cleaner than it appears in the photo, and the pool is only about 3 feet deep.
The largest pool is covered to protect bathers from the sun and the weather. This is where SRF and I eventually bathed. It is impossible for me to describe how wonderful and relaxing this was.
It eventually came time to get our clothes on and return to the car. We still enjoyed our surroundings as we hiked, and both of us took notice of the bark on this tree.
SRF wasn't aware that her crotch wetness had caused her ass to pick up some mud. (I guess I just have that effect on women!)Later, we stopped to take a look at some fishermen.
Their boys were jumping from the rocks into the river. This scares me: I've seen too many beautiful people rendered quadriplegic in my career, often by taking dives into a river. But these guys did fine. (You may have to click on the photo to see the detail.)

One of the biggest treats at this point of the day was to spot some otters feeding on a couple of fish. The one on the left had a freshly-caught trout, and the one on the right had a huge salmon, probably dead after spawning.The water would carve all kinds of interesting shapes into the boulders.
On the highway home, SRF told me that this big rock outcropping reminded her of my cock.

I guess I do see a resemblance.In any event--power of suggestion or whatever--this led us to find a side road for a kissing break. We never could respect boundaries, I guess. The kissing led to petting, and petting led to.... Forest Sex!
This is SRF in a state of warm afterglow. We both wore contented smiles for quite a long time after this.

As we continued on down the highway, we wondered what poor souls would meet their end when this rock finally tumbled onto the highway. From this vantage point, it appeared that a strong breeze would send it down.
SRF and I enjoyed the ride back to Roseburg, where we stopped for a bit of coffee and a morsel to eat. We like each other's company! But at last it was time to part ways, and I headed south towards home.

I stopped again at the casino, this time returning the dollars that had been won in the morning. While there, I was approached by a not-bad-looking blond, maybe 40, who asked me if I was by myself and did I want to go play slots with her. She was very drunk. I declined, and shortly after that I left. As I was driving away, there was a contingent of security staff literally planting her on the road in front of the property, where she was yelling and making a scene. It's sad, really. Sometimes I wonder what leads people down the desperate lives that they lead. What she must fear, and what she must do to survive. Life is good for me, but it's stuff like this that reminds me of the pain in the world.

Nevertheless, this was such a great day. I hope you all had a chance to enjoy life a bit, too.